Octavo (7.8125 x 5.125 inches; 198 x 130 mm.). 269, [3, blank]
pages. Publisher's black cloth lettered in gilt on the front cover
and lettered in black against a gilt panel on the spine. Corners
and head of spine lightly bumped, small ding to the outer edge of
the front board, endpapers slightly browned. Short tears to the
outer margin of pages 31-40. A very good copy. In the original dust
jacket (jacket with some chips and tears).

On the front flap of the dust jacket, Einstein has crossed through
Mein Weltbild, and written "Quatsch" ("Nonsense") beneath
it.

This collection of eleven of Einstein's essays was translated into
English by Alan Harris as The World as I See It (1934).

Max Talmey (born Max Talmud) was a Polish medical student who
introduced the young Albert Einstein to the wonders of science,
mathematics, and philosophy. "It was the custom among European
Jewish families to help impoverished students by regularly giving
them good meals. Every Thursday, Talmey came to dinner at the
Einstein house, and he and Albert became good friends even though
there was a ten-year difference in their ages. In appreciation for
the weekly meal, Talmey loaned Albert books on science, beginning
with a series called Popular Books on Natural Science by
Aaron Bernstein. Then he brought somewhat more advanced books such
as Force and Matter by Ludwig Buchner and Kosmos by
Alexander von Humboldt. The book that made the greatest impression
was a geometry textbook [Theodor Spieker's Lehrbuch der ebenen
Geometrie] that Talmey loaned to twelve-year-old Albert" (John
B. Severance, Einstein: Visionary Scientist (New York:
1999), page 25).

"During his medical school years in Munich, Max Talmey (1867-1941)
had an important early influence on the education of Albert
Einstein (1879-1955). Their five-year association occurred between
1889 and 1894. Einstein was a boy, 10 1/2 years old, when they
first met. Talmey was 11 years older than Einstein, actually twice
his age, and was studying at the University of Munich medical
school. Talmey helped direct Einstein's thinking in mathematics,
physics and philosophy. Their paths separated after Talmey
graduated from medical school and emigrated to the United States.
They met again several times, but only for short visits. This tale
of two students provides insights into the development of an astute
physician and a scientific genius" (Ravin, page [1]).

After Talmey emigrated to the United States, he practiced medicine,
mainly ophthalmology, in New York City, where "made significant
contributions to medicine, the popularization of Einstein's work,
and to the development of international languages" (Ravin, page
[1]). Talmey remained in New York until his death in 1941. Einstein
emigrated to America in 1933, and lived in Princeton, New Jersey,
until he died in 1955.

"Einstein received the Nobel prize in physics for 1921, but the
decision to give him the award was not made until late in
1922...During the years just before Einstein received the Nobel
prize, many articles were published in the lay literature about him
and his spectacularly brilliant work. Talmey realized that this man
was his old friend. He spent much of 1919 and 1920 at the New York
Public Library, learning what he could about his friend's work. In
1920 Columbia University was considering honoring Einstein, and
Talmey was asked to create a report about his relationship with the
famous scientist" (Ravin, pages 11-12).

In his 1932 Max Talmey published his book The Relativity Theory
Simplified and the Formative Period of Its Inventor, in which
he attempts to explain Einstein's work to the public. "While he
admitted that he was not the first to make the attempt, Talmey
showed how his unique knowledge of the creator of relativity theory
offered some advantages. The most important aspect of his book is
the tale of the relationship he had with Einstein, for it gives us
insights into the development of one of the greatest scientists who
has ever lived" (Ravin, pages 13-14).

In Part III of his book, "The Formative Period of the Inventor of
the Relativity Theory," Talmey reports on Einstein's early years
and describes his relationship with the young scientist. Talmey
writes (on page 159): "Extraordinary mentality was already evident
in Albert Einstein when he was only a young boy. This I observed at
close range through my associations with him from his tenth to his
fifteenth year, and I had the good fortune even to play some part
in its unfolding during this highly formative period of his life."
He continues (on page 160): "With the exception of his nearest
relatives I am the only one who was personally familiar with that
important stage in the life of this preeminent scientist, when the
first stones for the foundation of his future greatness were
laid."

"Although Albert was eleven years younger than the medical student,
close fellowship soon developed between them, due to the young
boy's exceptional intelligence which enabled him to discuss with a
college graduate subjects far above the comprehension of children
of his age. He showed a particular inclination toward physics and
took pleasure in conversing on physical phenomena. I gave him
therefore as reading matter A. Bernstein's 'Popular books on
Physical Science' and L. Büchner's 'Force and Matter,' two works
that were then quite popular in Germany. The boy was profoundly
impressed by them. Bernstein's work especially, which describes
physical phenomena lucidly and engagingly, had a great influence on
Albert, and enhanced considerably his interest in physical science.
He never forgot Bernstein's books. Even since he has become famous,
he has often praised them...On the occasion of a visit of Professor
and Mrs. Einstein to my home, in 1921, I asked him what he thought
of the vilification of Bernstein's books by the biographer who
calls them an obsolete work of 'sham science.' These are almost the
very words of Professor Einstein's reply: Bernstein's work is a
very good book even now, and at that time it was the best of its
kind. It has exerted a very great influence on my whole
development. I do not think much of 'Force and Matter,' but at that
time this book, too, made a deep impression on me'" (Talmey, pages
162-163).

"After his promotion to the fourth grade...I gave him...for
self-study, Spieker's text-book of geometry [Lehrbuch der ebenen
Geometrie]. I used to visit his home every week, and whenever I
came he delighted in showing me new problems from the book which he
had solved in the preceding week. At first I aided him in solving
difficult problems and thus followed closely his introduction, in
this way, to the study of mathematics. After a short time, a few
months, he had worked through the whole book of Spieker. He
thereupon devoted himself to higher mathematics, studying all by
himself Lübsen's excellent works on the subjects. These, too, I had
recommended to him if memory serves me right. Soon the flight of
his mathematical genius was so high that I could no longer follow.
Thereafter philosophy was often a subject of our conversations. I
recommended to him the reading of Kant. At that time he was still a
child, only thirteen years old, yet Kant's works, incomprehensible
to ordinary mortals, seemed to be clear to him after read through
his 'Critique of Pure Reason' and the works of other philosophers"
(Talmey, pages 163-164).

"For five years I had the good fortune of associating very often
with the young mathematician and philosopher. In all these years I
never saw him reading any light literature" (Talmey, page 164).

"Max Talmey, a doctor of medicine and a personal friend of
Einstein, has succeeded as probably no other man has in producing a
book, explaining the relativity theory which any person of ordinary
intelligence can read with understanding...Dr. Talmey has explained
the facts so clearly that any person with an interest in this
subject can grasp them" (from a review of The Relativity Theory
Simplified by C. S. Atchison which appeared in The
Mathematical Association of America, Vol. 41, No. 2 (February
1934), pages 96-97).

"The soundness and authoritative character of this volume are
attested by a statement by Professor Einstein himself in a letter
to the author [dated 21 January 1933], as follows: 'Only yesterday
I found time to read in your new book. I was glad to see how
thoroughly you have occupied yourself with the intellectual basis
of the relativity theory. I do believe your book can bring home the
theory to many an intelligent educated layman and to many a student
who does not want to penetrate more deeply into the mathematical
basis'" (from another review of Talmey's book, which appeared in
Popular Astronomy, Vol. 41 (1933), pages 237-238).

In her biographical sketch of Einstein, Einstein's younger sister
Maja writes of Talmey that he "initiated the youth into the world
of philosophical thought. He discussed with him all of the
questions raised by the youth thirsting for knowledge and
recommended the reading of books on natural philosophy (Kraft
und Stoff [Force and Matter] by Büchner, Kosmos
by Humboldt, the Naturwissenschaftliche Volksbücher
[Popular Books on Natural Sciences] by Bernstein, among
others). Moreover, despite the difference in their ages, he treated
the boy as an equal and friend. Whereas Uncle Jakob's style of
teasing skepticism about his abilities always spurred him on anew,
and the teachers at the Gymnasium pedantically looked more for
ready answers than for the ability to probe and reflect, the more
insightful medical student offered young Albert far more. For he
invested his whole person in examining everything that engaged the
boy's interest. This occurred at that very crucial age when the
child matures into a thinking person. His scientific interests were
broadened as a result; he was no longer engrossed solely in
mathematics, but had already begun to concern himself with the
fundamental problems of the natural sciences in general" ("Albert
Einstein-A Biographical Sketch by Maja Winteler-Einstein
(Excerpt)," in The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein.
Volume I: The Early Years, 1879-1902 (Princeton, New Jersey: 1987),
page xxi).